Prophecies of Revelation in Psalm 105:25-45

“He turned their heart to hate His people, to deal craftily with His servants.” Psalm 105:25

In the Gospels, the hatred in the hearts of the Pharisees toward God was exposed when they demanded the crucifixion of God’s Son Jesus Christ.

In Genesis 43:3, the hatred in the hearts of the Egyptians toward God’s people was exposed when they would “not eat food with the Hebrews, for that is an abomination to the Egyptians.” Eventually, the hatred in their hearts led to ever worsening mistreatment of God’s servants.

God turned the hearts of the Egyptians to hate His people, that is, to no longer hide what was in their hearts, but reveal it by their misdeeds. The Egyptians dealt craftily with them. The Hebrew word for “craftily is נָכַל (nâkal). It means to scheme or act treacherously against someone.

The Egyptians used every political strategy to weaken them, and reduce their numbers. They made their labor harsh, their lives bitter, and killed their male children at birth. [1]

What the Egyptians did to God’s servants in Exodus is a foreshadowing of what the “beast” or antichrist ruler of Revelation 13 will do to the saints. In Revelation 13:7, we read, “It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation.”

God removed the restraints of Pharaoh from acting out his hatred against His servants before He destroyed him. God will also remove the restraints from the earth’s final antichrist before He destroys him. In this way, all such rulers, who want to appear as saviors of the world are exposed as deceivers and embodiments of Satan.

In 2 Thessalonians 2:7-8, we read, “The mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming.” God is restraining worldwide cruelty, but cruel hatred is already in the hearts of many. Don’t get caught off-guard.

In the Book of Revelation, God reveals to us the final end of all Pharaoh-like rulers. Rulers who deceive people to think that they are better gods and saviors than God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Such rulers harbor hatred of Christ and His servants.

In Revelation 19, when Christ returns, He casts the end time’s antichrist into a lake of fire. After that, in Revelation 20, the devil is cast into a lake of fire. In Revelation 21-22, the followers of Christ enjoy a heavenly Promised Land much better than the one located here on earth.

“He sent Moses His servant, and Aaron whom He had chosen.” Psalm 105:26

The instruments God used to deliver Israel from Egypt were prophets. God chose Moses to be Israel’s leader and lawgiver, and He made Aaron their high priest. Moses represents the Law which convicts people of sin. Aaron represents the Gospel for God appointed him to make atonement for the sins of His people.

In Revelation 11, the Lord speaks of two witnesses who speak for God during the end time. After they are martyred and resurrected, and ascend to heaven, we read in Revelation 11:15, “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!” In Revelation 11:19, we read, “the temple of God was opened in heaven.” These two embodied Christ and the Holy Spirit. They exposed evil and revealed God.

“They performed His signs among them, and wonders in the land of Ham. He sent darkness and made it dark. And they did not rebel against His Word.” Psalm 105:27-28

The plagues are called God’s signs and wonders. They demonstrate God’s wrath against evil. Each plague carried a clear message, namely, “Let My people go.” [2]

In Exodus 10:21-23, we read, “Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘Stretch out your hand toward heaven, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, darkness which may even be felt.’ So Moses stretched out his hand toward heaven, and there was thick darkness in all the land of Egypt three days. They did not see one another. Nor did anyone rise from his place for three days. But all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings.”

Then, “they”—that is, the Israelites—“did not rebel against His Word.” The plague of darkness was the ninth of ten plagues. By this time, the Israelites who at first doubted God, believed Him.

Many of the signs that God did in Egypt are also done in the Book of Revelation. For example, in Revelation 16:10, we read, “Then the fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and his kingdom became full of darkness.”

“He turned their waters into blood and killed their fish.” Psalm 105:29

The Nile, which the Egyptians worshiped, became bloody and wreaked of death. The Egyptians loss their convenient water supply and delicious fish when their water was turned to blood. [3]

In Revelation 16:4, 6, we read, “Then the third angel poured out his bowl on the rivers and springs of water, and they became blood.” “They have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and You have given them blood to drink. For it is their just due.”

“Their land abounded with frogs, even in the chambers of their kings.” Psalm 105:30

Frogs invaded the king’s palace. His contempt for God yielded contempt in his chambers. [4]

In Revelation 16:13, we read, “I saw three unclean spirits like frogs coming out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet.”

“He spoke, and there came swarms of flies, and lice in all their territory.” Psalm 105:31

According to Exodus 8:17, 24, swarms of flies filled the air, and lice covered them. God can use the smallest creatures to humble the proud and magnify His power.

“He gave them hail for rain and flaming fire in their land. He struck their vines also, and their fig trees, and splintered the trees of their territory.” Psalm 105:32-33

According to Exodus 9:23, the hail and fire also destroyed their livestock and crops.

In Revelation 8:7, we read, “The first angel sounded: And hail and fire followed, mingled with blood, and they were thrown to the earth. And a third of the trees were burned up, and all green grass was burned up.”

“He spoke, and locusts came, young locusts without number, and ate up all the vegetation in their land and devoured the fruit of their ground.” Psalm 105:34-35

God has many arrows in His quiver. Locusts are a part of His arsenal. Though individually weak, God unites them to overwhelm His enemies. [5]

In Revelation 9:3, we read, “Then out of the smoke locusts came upon the earth. And to them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power.”

“He also destroyed all the firstborn in their land, the first of all their strength.” Psalm 105:36

During the night, the pride and hope of Egyptian families was struck down by an angel of death. Egypt refused to release God’s firstborn people Israel, so God took Egypt’s firstborn. [6]

In Revelation 14:19-20, we read that an angel thrust his sickle into the earth and gathered the vine of the earth (those not of God), and threw it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. And blood came out of the winepress, up to the horses’ bridles for many miles.

“He also brought them out with silver and gold, and there was none feeble among His tribes.” Psalm 105:37

The impoverished slaves came forth from Egypt strong and with much treasure.

In Revelation 21:21, we read of New Jerusalem, “The twelve gates were twelve pearls: each individual gate was of one pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.”

“Egypt was glad when they departed, for the fear of them had fallen upon them.” Psalm 105:38

Previously mistreated by Egypt, Israel left Egypt with honor. God made His people a stone too heavy for Egypt. The Lord says in Zechariah 12:3, “I will make Jerusalem a very heavy stone for all peoples. All who would heave it away will surely be cut in pieces, though all nations of the earth are gathered against it.” [7]

“He spread a cloud for a covering, and fire to give light in the night.” Psalm 105:39

God spread a cloud above Israel to shade them from the sun by day. He appointed a pillar of fire to light their way by night. God graciously provides for His people day and night, until they (we) reach heaven, where there will be eternal light. [8] Praise the Lord!

“The people asked, and He brought quail, and satisfied them with the bread of heaven.” Psalm 105:40

The people asked for meat, and God gave them quail. Numbers 11:31 says that there were so many birds that the ground was covered about three feet deep with them.

“He opened the rock, and water gushed out. It ran in the dry places like a river.” Psalm 105:41

The water ran like a river, abundantly and continually, accompanying them throughout their journey. This is why in 1 Corinthians 10:4 the Scripture says that the rock followed them. This river of God flowed through dry desert regions without disappearing into the sand. This miracle is echoed in Isaiah 43:19-20, “I will give rivers in the desert, to give drink to My chosen.” [9]

In Revelation 7:17, we read, “The Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

“For He remembered His holy promise, and Abraham His servant.” Psalm 105:42

Though Israel was often unworthy and ungrateful, God acted on their behalf because He remembered His covenant with Abraham. He did not allow His promise to fail. [10]

“He brought out His people with joy, His chosen ones with gladness.” Psalm 105:43

While Egypt cried, Israel rejoiced. They looked back with gratitude at the slavery they had escaped and forward with hope toward the promised land. God gave them a new song. [11]

In Hebrews 12:22-23, God reminds us, “You have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect.” We too, will experience joy and gladness with God!

“He gave them the lands of the Gentiles, and they inherited the labor of the nations, that they might observe His statutes and keep His laws. Praise the Lord!” Psalm 105:44-45

The Israelites enjoyed what others had labored to build. The wealth of those who sacrificed their children to idols were transferred to Israel. Just as the Egyptians had benefited from Israel’s labor, Israel now benefited from the labor of the Canaanites. [12]

God gave to Israel the lands of the nations that they might observe His statutes and keep His laws. They weren’t to sit back, take their ease and only satisfy their lust for pleasure. They were to put the wealth of the nations to work by creating communities on earth that reflected the glory of the kingdom of God that is coming.

The phrase, “Praise the Lord,” with which Psalm 105 ends will likely be a phrase that we shout when we who believe in and profess Jesus Christ enter heaven.


[1-12] Material developed and edited from Matthew Henry’s Commentary